Hi. Thanks for writing to us.

It's really common for guys to wonder if their penis is a normal size and shape, especially if they're comparing theirs to what they may see in porn. In porn you only see guys with big, straight penises, so many guys think that is the norm. However, in the real world, a downward curve is perfectly normal.

Most guys have a curve to some direction, whether it be up, down, left, or right. This is just how it is and has nothing to do with masturbation; it's simply how your penis has been made. Like all parts of the body, there is a wide range of normal penis sizes, shapes and colours.

You are still growing and developing, and it might take a few years before these changes are finished. There is a lot of variation from person to person so it's hard to know when you will stop growing. Two people that are the same age can look quite different from each other. One might look much older, but the one who looks younger and started developing later will catch up in time. If you're wondering about your development, don't try to compare yourself to your friends because they're probably at a different stage of development than you are.

People start masturbating at different ages. Some might start at the beginning of puberty, some might start as teenagers, some as adults. Masturbating does not mean that you will grow up to be anything that you don't want to be. Masturbation is a very healthy and safe way of exploring your sexuality.

There are lots of myths about masturbation. Some people think that if you masturbate you'll go blind, or you'll grow hair on the palms of your hands, or you won't be able to have babies. The fact is, though, that none of these things will happen if you masturbate. As long as what you are doing feels right to you, and you are doing it in private, then there is nothing wrong with masturbating. Have a look at the links below for more info.

Remember, if you are having sex, use a condom every time to protect you and your partner from STIs (sexually transmissible infections). Good luck and take care.